Acts 20 · Verse 16

Acts 20:16

For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

Acts 20:16, King James Version

Acts 20:16 in other translations

BSB	Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
WEB	For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
ASV	For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
YLT	for Paul decided to sail past Ephesus, that there may not be to him a loss of time in Asia, for he hasted, if it were possible for him, on the day of the Pentecost to be at Jerusalem.
DARBY	for Paul thought it desirable to sail by Ephesus, so that he might not be made to spend time in Asia; for he hastened, if it was possible for him, to be the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem.
BBE	For Paul's purpose was to go past Ephesus, so that he might not be kept in Asia; for he was going quickly, in order, if possible, to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
Webster	For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

What does Acts 20:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 20:15-16

15-16. came the next day over against Chios--now Scio: one of the most beautiful of those islands between which and the coast the sail is so charming. They appear not to have touched at it. next day we arrived--"touched" or "put in." at Samos--another island coming quite close to the mainland, and about as far south of Chios as it is south of Lesbos. tarried--for the night. at Trogyllium--an anchorage on the…

Read the full comment on Acts 20:15-16 →

Barnes' Notes

Verse 16. To sail by Ephesus. The word by in our translation is ambiguous. We say to go by a place, meaning either to take it in our way, to go to it, or to go past it. Here it means the latter. He intended to sail past Ephesus, without going to it.

For he hasted, etc. Had he gone to Ephesus, he would probably have been so delayed in his journey that he could not reach Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost.

The day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1.

(b) "be at Jerusalem" Acts 18:21, 24:17 (c) "Pentecost" Acts 2:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 16 To sail by Ephesus - Not to touch there at this time. To be at Jerusalem the day of pentecost - That he might have the opportunity of preaching the kingdom of God to multitudes of Jews from different places, who would come up to Jerusalem at that feast; and then he no doubt expected to see there a renewal of that day of pentecost in which the Spirit was poured out on the disciples, and in consequence of which so many were converted to God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 20:13-16

Paul hastened to Jerusalem, but tried to do good by the way, when going from place to place, as every good man should do. In doing God's work, our own wills and those of our friends must often be crossed; we must not spend time with them when duty calls us another way.

Read the full comment on Acts 20:13-16 →

Acts 20:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

κεκρίκειkekrikeiHad decidedG2919

γὰρgarforG1063

ὁho<the>G3588

ΠαῦλοςPaulosPaulG3972

παραπλεῦσαιparapleusaito sail byG3896

τὴνtēn<the>G3588

Ἔφεσον,EphesonEphesus,G2181

ὅπωςhopōsso thatG3704

μὴmēnotG3361

γένηταιgenētaiit may happenG1096

αὐτῷautōto himG846

χρονοτριβῆσαιchronotribēsaito spend timeG5551

ἐνeninG1722

τῇtēa<the>G3588

Ἀσίᾳ·AsiaAsia;G773

ἔσπευδενespeudenhe was hastenedG4692

γὰρgarforG1063

εἰeiifG1487

δυνατὸνdunatonpossibleG1415

εἴηeiēit would beG1510

αὐτῷautōfor himG846

τὴνtēnon theG3588

ἡμέρανhēmerandayG2250

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

πεντηκοστῆςpentēkostēsof PentecostG4005

γενέσθαιgenesthaito beG1096

εἰςeisinG1519

Ἱεροσόλυμα.¶Hi'erosolumaJerusalem.G2414

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 20:16

1 Corinthians 16:8
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
Acts 2:1
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 19:21
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
Acts 20:6
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
Acts 18:21
But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 18:19
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
Romans 15:24-28
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. …
Exodus 34:22
And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.
Acts 24:17
Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
Acts 20:22
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Acts 20:13
And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

had.
13; 18:21; 19:21; 21:4; 12:13; 24:17; Ro 15:24-28
the day.
2:1; Ex 34:22; 1Co 16:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 20:15
And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
Acts 20:16
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
Acts 20:17
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Read all of Acts 20

Acts 20:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque Pablo se había propuesto pasar adelante de Efeso; por no detenerse en Asia: porque se apresuraba por hacer el día de Pentecostés, si le fuese posible, en Jerusalem.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	car Paul avait résolu de passer devant Éphèse, de manière à ne pas dépenser son temps en Asie; car il se hâtait pour être, s’il lui était possible, le jour de la Pentecôte, à Jérusalem.
German Elberfelder 1871	denn Paulus hatte sich entschlossen, an Ephesus vorbeizufahren, damit es ihm nicht geschehe, in Asien Zeit zu versäumen; denn er eilte, wenn es ihm möglich wäre, am Pfingsttage in Jerusalem zu sein.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Proposuerat enim Paulus transnavigare Ephesum, ne qua mora illi fieret in Asia. Festinabat enim, si possibile sibi esset, ut diem Pentecostes faceret Jerosolymis.